Alexander III 1881-1894

13th March 1881: A III became Tsar after A II was assassinated by a member of the revolutionary group 'The People's Will'.

A III unlike A II, believed in Russification and wanted to undo A II's reforms and westernisation, which he believed made Russia weak and that the power of the Tsar had to be unchallenged.

''He would not sacrifice the truly Russian principle of autocracy''- H. Seton-Watson.

1881 Statute of State Security: increased government powers by setting up government controlled courts and liberal officials, judges and magistrates removed. Okhrana powers extended and censorship tightened. These were described as emergency measures but stayed in place until 1917.